Latest news with #TheLord'sPrayer
Business Upturn
5 days ago
- General
- Business Upturn
Strategic Renewal Launches Coaching Program That Reverses Declining Prayer Habits Among Pastors
Denver, CO, Aug. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Strategic Renewal, a nonprofit ministry, announced today that its Praying Leader coaching program is reversing a nationwide decline in pastoral confidence around leading prayer. A recent survey conducted by the organization found that 67% of pastors do not view prayer as central to their ministry—despite 64% expressing a deep conviction about calling their congregations to pray. Facilitated by a group of multi-denominational pastors, the program has helped shift this trend: 93% of participants in Strategic Renewal's online coaching cohorts now report feeling empowered in both their personal prayer lives and their ability to lead prayer within their churches. 'When you change the way a person prays, you change the way they live and do ministry.' – Daniel Henderson, Global Director of The 6:4 Fellowship and Founder of Strategic Renewal Prayer Snapshot For twenty-five years, Strategic Renewal has operated from the conviction that pastoral burn-out and moral failure comes from misplaced priorities in living out the mission to which God has called them. Acts 6:4 cites a church leader's primary responsibilities as devoting themselves to 'prayer and the ministry of the Word,' yet, many churches seem to have relegated prayer to moments of transition or simply to-do lists for God. The ministries of Strategic Renewal have taught thousands of people to seek God's face through Scripture-fed, Spirit-led, Worship-based prayer, and it's beginning to change the landscape of the western church. Through coaching cohorts called The Praying Leader, pastors learn to use the pattern of The Lord's Prayer as a filter to powerfully pray any passage of scripture back to God, through worship-based prayer! Those who have engaged in this discipleship on prayer, feel equipped and confident to lead prayer gatherings, and to focus on their church having a culture of prayer, rather than just being a church that prays. Additionally, 85% of these pastors see this type of prayer as a primary factor in moving their people toward increasingly bold evangelism. About Strategic Renewal Strategic Renewal is a ministry to, for and within the local church that returns our focus to scripture-fed, Spirit-led, worship-based prayer. It's for pastors called in Acts 6:4 to devote themselves to prayer and the word, and it's for disciples called in Acts 6:3 to be of good standing, full of the Spirit and wisdom and appointed to empower their pastors by carrying out the ministry of the church. Press inquiries Strategic Renewal Heather Rea [email protected] 434-209-2259 PO Box 370233 Denver, CO 80237
Irish Examiner
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Daniel O'Connell personified the perpetual importance of an independent Bar
On July 27, 1813, in the Court of King's Bench in Dublin, Daniel O'Connell rose to defend John Magee, publisher of the Dublin Evening Post, against a charge of criminal libel. His speech that day demonstrated how a skilled barrister could transform an oppressive legal system into an instrument of political change. The case of The King v. John Magee remains one of the most memorable examples of O'Connell's extraordinary ability to use his legal expertise in the service of justice and reform. The charge against Magee arose from his publication of a review criticising the departing Lord Lieutenant, the Duke of Richmond. The article condemned Richmond's errors in governing Ireland and compared him to the worst of his predecessors, who were described as 'the profligate unprincipled Westmorland, the cold-hearted and cruel Camden, the artful and treacherous Cornwallis'. More significantly, it challenged the fundamental principle of British rule in Ireland — 'a principle of exclusion, which debars the majority of the people from the enjoyment of those privileges that are possessed by the minority'. This was no ordinary libel case. As O'Connell understood, it was unavoidably a political case, and it demanded a political speech. The prosecution was designed to suppress dissent and maintain the exclusion of Ireland's Catholic majority from political participation. Attorney General William Saurin made this clear in his opening, describing Magee as a 'ruffian' whose purpose was 'to excite [in the minds of the population] hatred against those whom the laws have appointed to rule over them, and prepare them for revolution'. O'Connell faced formidable obstacles. The law of criminal libel was so broad that, as he later observed, 'every letter I ever published could be declared a libel' and the libel law could 'produce a conviction with a proper judge and jury for The Lord's Prayer with due legal inuendoes'. More damaging still was the composition of the jury — hand-picked to ensure conviction. With characteristic boldness, O'Connell confronted this unfairness head-on, telling the jurors: 'Gentlemen, he [the Attorney General] thinks he knows his men; he knows you; many of you signed the no-popery petition... you would not have been summoned on this jury if you had entertained liberal sentiments'. Rather than being cowed by these disadvantages, O'Connell turned them into weapons. He began by meeting Saurin's personal attacks, describing the Attorney General's speech as a 'farrago of helpless absurdity'. When Saurin had stooped to calling Magee a ruffian and comparing him to 'the keeper of a house of ill fame', O'Connell lamented how far Saurin fell below the standards of the great Irish barristers such as Curran and Ponsonby: 'Devoid of taste and of genius, how can he have had memory enough to preserve this original vulgarity — he is, indeed, an object of compassion; and, from my inmost soul, I bestow on him my forgiveness and my bounteous pity'. O'Connell was even able to use Saurin's own words against him. When the Attorney General accused Magee of Jacobinism, O'Connell recalled Saurin's defence of himself against the same charge in 1800, when Saurin, then anti-union, had declared that 'agitation is ... the price necessarily paid for liberty'. O'Connell's response was devastating: 'We have paid the price, gentlemen, and the honest man refuses to give us the goods'. What made O'Connell's defence truly remarkable was how he transformed a hopeless legal case into a powerful platform for political reform. His bold claim: 'the Catholic cause is on its majestic march — its progress is rapid and obvious... We will, we must, be soon emancipated' is electrifying even now. What must it have sounded like in his voice, in that court, in that trial, in those times? His confidence in his legal position was equally striking. When Saurin threatened to crush the Catholic Board, O'Connell declared: 'I am, if not a lawyer, at least a barrister. On this subject, I ought to know something; and I do not hesitate to contradict the Attorney General ... the Catholic Board is perfectly a legal assembly — that it not only does not violate the law, but that it is entitled to the protection of the law' Perhaps the most significant moment came not during the trial itself, but at the sentencing hearing on November 27, 1813. When Saurin attempted to use Magee's publication of O'Connell's defence speech as grounds for increasing Magee's sentence, O'Connell delivered what may be his most important statement on the role of the legal profession. In the face of personal threats of contempt and possible imprisonment following his denunciation of the Attorney General, O'Connell stood firm, delivering an impassioned defence of the importance of an independent Bar: 'It is the first interest of the public that the Bar shall be left free... the public are deeply interested in our independence; their properties, their lives, their honours, are entrusted to us; and if we, in whom such a guardianship is confided, be degraded, how can we afford protection to others?'. This was not merely professional self-interest, but a profound understanding of the Bar's constitutional role. In a system designed to exclude the majority from political participation, an independent legal profession became the last protection of individual rights. O'Connell grasped the fact that, without fearless advocates willing to challenge authority, the law would become merely an instrument of oppression. That is why, as the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, put it when addressing the O'Connell 250 Symposium in Trinity College Dublin on Tuesday last, The Bar of Ireland has always been rightly proud of the fact that O'Connell was such a distinguished member of the Bar. Two hundred years later, the existence of a fearless independent Bar, practising advocacy and giving legal advice to the highest professional standards, remains an essential guarantee of the rule of law and the protection of individual rights. The many, often insidious, efforts that exist, whether prompted by powerful commercial, bureaucratic or political interests, to degrade or diminish the Bar are always, above all else, an attack on the rights of citizens and on the rule of law. O'Connell's performance in The King v. John Magee exemplifies the best traditions of forensic advocacy at The Bar of Ireland. Faced with a corrupt system, a biased tribunal, and impossible odds, he refused to bow his head or moderate his principles. Instead, he turned the forms and processes of an unjust and oppressive system against itself, using a political prosecution against dissenting speech as the means to condemn the oppressor and amplify the dissent. In an age when legal systems worldwide face challenges to their integrity and especially to the independence of barristers and advocates, O'Connell's example reminds us that the law's highest purpose is not merely to maintain order, but to secure justice. His defence of John Magee shows the difference a single barrister, armed with skill, courage, and unwavering principle, can make. Seán Guerin SC. Picture: Conor McCabe Photography. Seán Guerin SC is Chair of the Council of The Bar of Ireland
Hindustan Times
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris hold hands during emotional moment at Melissa Hortman's funeral: Watch
Former US President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris paid their respects at the funeral of Minnesota Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, who were tragically shot dead at their home in Stillwater, Minnesota, earlier this month. The funeral service took place on Saturday, June 28, at the Basilica of Saint Mary in Minneapolis. Biden and Harris sat solemnly in the front row alongside Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, according to a People report. The service was streamed live by local broadcaster WCCO. The funeral for Melissa and Mark Hortman was held on June 28, attended by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. (Alex Kormann/Star Tribune via AP, Pool)(AP) During an emotional moment, Biden and Harris were spotted holding hands as they stood to recite 'The Lord's Prayer' with other attendees at the funeral. Meanwhile, delivering the eulogy, Governor Walz described Melissa Hortman as 'the most consequential speaker in Minnesota history.' A visibly moved Walz was quoted in the People report saying that he gets to remember Hortman as a close friend, a mentor, and the most talented legislator. Reflecting on the broader meaning of the shooting, Walz urged Americans to consider how they engage in public discourse. In his eulogy, he recounted that everyone was searching for some lesson, some meaning, and maybe each person could recommit to engaging in politics and life as fiercely, heartily, and humanely as Mark and Melissa did. The funeral was held after the Hortmans and their dog were laid in the Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda, where mourners from across the state gathered to pay their respects on Friday, June 27. Melissa and Mark Hortman fatally shot in their home According to the People report, Melissa and Mark Hortman, along with their dog Gilbert, were fatally shot on June 14 in what authorities called a 'targeted attack.' The same day, Democratic Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were also shot at their home just nine miles away. They both survived the attack. Vance Boelter, the accused gunman, was charged with two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder. The report added that Biden paid a personal visit to Hoffmans at their hospital bedside before attending the funeral. ALSO READ: Health decline to wheelchair use: 10 bombshell claims about Joe Biden in new book FAQs Who was Melissa Hortman? Melissa Hortman was a respected Minnesota state representative and Speaker of the House known for her progressive leadership and bipartisan approach. Why were Melissa and Mark Hortman killed? They were shot and killed in a targeted attack at their home. Vance Boelter has been charged with their murders. Why were Joe Biden and Kamala Harris at the funeral? They attended the event to honor Melissa Hortman's public service and offer support amid the shocking tragedy that affected the nation's political community. What happened to Senator John Hoffman? Sen Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, were also shot in a separate attack the same day. Both survived and are recovering.
Daily Mirror
17-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Mystery of 200-year-old runes found in Canada finally cracked
The runes, numbering 255 in total, were discovered in 2018 when a tree fell and exposed a carefully carved inscription in Ontario, Canada, just 155 miles from the US border Archaeologists have finally cracked a 200 year old code etched into a remote Canadian rock, leaving researchers gobsmacked. The 255 enigmatic symbols were unearthed in 2018 when a tree toppled over and revealed a meticulously carved inscription near the small town of Wawa in Ontario, just 155 miles from the US border in Michigan, according to MailOnline. Now, after years of scrutiny, archaeologist Ryan Primrose from the Ontario Centre for Archaeological Education has disclosed that the markings are actually the Lord's Prayer - penned entirely in Swedish using ancient Nordic runes. The religious message was an unexpected discovery in the Canadian wilderness. However, further probing unveiled that Swedish workers had once been enlisted by the Hudson's Bay Company to staff isolated trading posts in the 1800s - suggesting one of them as the probable author of the carving. With no other artefacts discovered at the site, experts reckon it may have served as a modest outdoor place of worship for the Scandinavian settlers, reports the Express. During the 19th century, the Hudson's Bay Company - a massive British fur trading network - was expanding swiftly across North America. To staff remote locations in Canada's interior and the Pacific Northwest, they frequently turned to recruits from Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. What is the mysterious slab Mystery surrounds a stone slab found in Manitoba, Canada, featuring ancient carvings within a precise square border three feet by four. Accompanying the inscriptions is an image of a boat circled by 16 figures - thought to represent Swedes travelling to Canada long ago. Primrose shared with CBC that the slab seemed purposefully buried. "There were ruins covered by about six inches of soil," he recounted. Although the wear on the stone hints it might hail from several centuries past, evidence points to Swedish speakers in the area just two centuries ago. Henrik Williams, emeritus professor at Uppsala University, Sweden, highlighted the rarity of runic inscriptions: "Any runic inscription is rare. Someone put all this effort into this particular text and you wonder why. The mystery does not decrease just because of its age." Emphasising his caution, Primrose revealed his delay in announcing the find until the translation was certain. "This is certainly among the least expected finds I have encountered in my career," he conceded. What is The Lord's Prayer? The Lord's Prayer is familiar to Christians worldwide, found in the New Testament in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4, summarising vital Christian teachings from begging for daily bread to the significance of pardon and eschewing sin. In the early Christian tradition, it was imparted to new converts and recited during worship. Over time, it became a central part of liturgy across all major branches of Christianity - Roman Catholic, Orthodox and Protestant - earning itself the nickname of the perfect prayer. Translated into numerous languages, the version of the prayer found in Canada is in Swedish, reflecting both religious devotion and cultural identity. Although the Bible was translated into Swedish in 1541, scholars suggest that the use of runes in this inscription might have been a way to honour Scandinavia's linguistic heritage - a remarkable fusion of faith and history etched into stone, waiting to be discovered.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mysterious carving found in northern Ontario wilderness
Seven years ago, a tree fell over in the northern Ontario bush and exposed an archeological mystery that researchers are still trying to understand. Found carved into the bedrock, not far from the town of Wawa, were 255 symbols arranged in a square about 1.2 metres by 1.5 metres, and next to it, there is carved a picture of a boat with 16 people on it, as well as 14 Xs. Photos of the discovery made their way to Ryan Primrose, an archeologist based in New Liskeard and the director of the Ontario Centre for Archeological Education. "Well it's certainly among the least expected finds that I think I've encountered during my career. It's absolutely fascinating," he said. Primrose has been working on the carvings since 2018 and is now talking about it publicly for the first time. "We didn't want to release information publicly until we had done as much as we could at the time to understand exactly what it was," he said. Primrose quickly realized the 255 characters were Nordic runes, part of a language known as Futhark that was used in Scandinavia in centuries past. He was worried some would jump to conclusions that these were carved by Vikings more than a millennium ago. That's why he sought the help of Henrik Williams, an emeritus professor at Uppsala University in Sweden and a leading expert in runology. He came to analyze the well-worn carvings on a drizzly cold October day several years ago. "I was under a tarpaulin for three hours with a flash light, looking at the runes and the others were sitting outside freezing," Williams said. "And I came out with this reading." He realized that the runic writing spelled out the words of The Lord's Prayer in Swedish and traced it back to a 1611 runic version of the prayer, which was republished in the 19th century. "It must have taken days and days of work. They are really deeply carved into the rock. Someone must have spent a couple of weeks carving this thing," Williams said. "And this must have been a Swede. Were there any Swedes at all here?" Primrose said subsequent research has shown that the Hudson's Bay Company did hire Swedes in the 1800s to work at trading posts in the Canadian wilderness, including the Michipicoten post, not too far from where the carving was found. He says his going theory, based on how worn the carving is, is that it was likely made in the early to mid-1800s. Williams admits to being "a little disappointed" that it's only about 200 years old, but says "the mystery around it doesn't decrease just because it's slightly younger than we hoped it was." "Anybody has to start wondering 'Why on Earth did they carve it here and why did they choose that text?' And there's no answers," he said. "But mysteries, they do tend to attract people and this one will certainly do that." Primrose speculates this carving could have been a spot for religious worship, perhaps a gathering place for Swedes who worked at the trading post, or the solitary work of one person. He says the carving was found under several inches of soil and it was likely deliberately buried, but no other artifacts were found in the area which makes it "difficult to tell what's going on." Working with the property owner, Primrose has applied for a lease hold on the land and is hoping to get funding to develop the site into a historical tourist attraction, including a structure over the carving to protect it from further wear. He hopes to have those plans formalized by the end of the summer and then give the public a chance to ponder the mysterious carving in person.
